The death of two infants in separate incidents in Nayagarh and Keonjhar districts triggered protests by locals alleging medical negligence by the hospitals on Thursday.
In the first incident, tension erupted at the Nayagarh District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) following the death of an infant, who died after swallowing a bottle cap.
Sources said an eight-month-old baby of Golgola village under Nuagaon block had swallowed a bottle cap while playing this Sunday following which he was admitted to the hospital. But he died while undergoing treatment.
Family members of the deceased infant blamed the absence of paediatricians as the main reason behind the death of the child.
“My child had swallowed a bottle cap while playing. When we brought him to the hospital he was declared dead. There were no doctors in the hospital when we came here,” father of the infant said.
On the other hand the doctor, who first treated the infant, said that the condition of the infant was already bad when he was brought here.
“It was probably a bottle cap stuck in his throat and the condition of the patient was very bad when he was brought here,” Dr Monalisa Swain said.
Irate over the incident, locals blocked the National Highway 57.
Due to the road blockade, vehicular movement on the Khordha-Balangir highway was disrupted for a few hours. Police who arrived at the spot after receiving the information tried to pacify the mob but the protestors continued to stage demonstration following which the cops resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the crowd. Palpable tension still prevailed at the spot.
Similarly, tension prevailed at Puskala village in the Telkoi area of Keonjhar district on the day as a baby allegedly died after being vaccinated.
Irate villagers detained the concerned auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) demanding arrival of the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) at the spot.
“My child was vaccinated yesterday. After returning home, blood started oozing out twice from the spot where the injection was administered. later, the infant didn’t consume any food and died around 1.30 am last night,” said the father of the deceased child.
later, irate locals blocked the road and held a protest against the incident.